AR stuff

I'm searching for a "hunting style" AR in .223 (not interested in straight tactical set-ups having a mile of pic rail for add-ons). I've looked at all the usual candidates and, so far, the Rock River Predator Pursuit or Coyote Carbine is near the top. However, I ran across this company... LAR Grizzly Firearms. They have one that interested me. It is the LAR OPS-4 side charged grizzly hunter. I'm looking at the 18" SS bull barrel, Wylde chamber , 1:8 twist. Anybody know anything about them? Is the side charging design good / reliable? I have never heard anything about them before. Being a newbie to AR's, I was looking for advice / recommendations. All comments welcomed.

PS. The LaRue 18" Tactical PredaTAR is intriguing. It's a bit pricey, but I would imagine quite good. It's a real lightweight, but I'm not sure if that is good or bad. Any comments here also would be appreciated.

Thanks all.

AR-15 performance makes nice uppers.  Not sure if they will have exactly what you want though. 

Just a thought, but why not build your own?  Spend a couple hundred on tools, watch the videos on brownells website and pick out the exact parts you want and slap er together.  For the most part they are pretty simple.  Granted watching a few videos does not make one a armorer or anything, but ARs parts these days are pretty slick to put together.

I have probably assembled 15 of them now.  I buy parts and try them for a while, then take them off and sell them to buy something else to try.  When I want to deep clean I completely take them apart and reassemble them and they are like new again. 


Edited by supertool73 - March/26/2012 at 16:51

Check out White Oak armament.  I went with their upper and bolt carrier on my build.  They have several complete uppers will fit the bill of what you describe.  Then go buy a lower from Rock River.  

I have some experience with LAR Grizzly, their Big Boar rifle, and it is well made and others shooters with them seem to pleased with their quality. I have examined their pistols and they also seem to be of quality. I would think that their AR line would also exhibit the same atention to detail and finish.

I will second the suggestion on White Oak Armament, their barrels are top notch and accurate and their service is top notch.  I just bought to lowers from Palmetto State Armory, $79.95 out the door, very good lowers, everything was in spec.

There are some good builders out there as well that will make pretty much exactly what you want, you just tell them.  Specialized Dynamics, Bison, Kies,  all good and reputable builders.  If you build your own build it from quality parts and you'll have one that will last you forever.  Look at lowers from Seekins,  I saw one recently and now.... I got to have one.  They make complete rifles too but I dont' think they have a "hunter" upper that I am aware  of.

Thanks SVT, now I have to save up for a new project, the Seekins lowers and uppers look really nice.

Thanks for the replies. Specialized Dynamics has a LW Hunter model that is interesting. Will investigate further.  I don't trust myself to build...yet. I'm afraid the old folks syndrome will kick in and... FUBAR. 

I have a Bushmaster Predeator (well my Daughter does, I gave her one this past Christmas) and I am very impressed with it. It shoots and groups as good as any I have had oppertunity to shoot. Last time at the range I was testing a couple of flash supressors I built for noise level and was able to put rounds in a 2" ring freehand at 100yds. I was always of the opinion that to have a real quality AR it had to be a Colt BUT, I don't think that anymore.

Building your own can definitely be more expensive in some cases.  But it ensures it is exactly what you want.  Part of why I went with WOA for the upper and barrel.  And I am very impressed with them.  There are plenty of good makers out there now.  For just your run of the mill stuff, I like DPMS (at least mine, although parts are getting upgraded).  I like some of the RRA I have played with as well.  The good news is that no matter what you get, if you decide you don't like something, you can change it out.

bugsNbows wrote: ..... LAR Grizzly Firearms.  .... who   ......LaRue 18" Tactical PredaTAR......    Almost as good as the OBR and PreditOBR an excellent choice built with top quality parts. Thanks all.

I have the 16 inch RR predator pursuit upper mounted on a $125 complete plum crazy lower. I have a total of $725 +tax invested in a tack driving little ar. The trigger on that plum crazy is actually pretty good too. I choose the vortex diamond back 3-9x40 scope with nikon p series rings. for my optics. I am very happy with this setup thus far.

The cheapest way into a really good shooting one is to buy a rock river lower complete with the match trigger or switch out the trigger for a good one like a Geissele Match trigger and then have White Oak Armory build the upper complete probably a 18 in barrel with a free float tube and gas block ( an A2 front sight gets in the way but a rail you can add flip up if desired) and I would thread it with a Smith Vortex flash suppressor to save your night vision in case you are hunting coyotes in low light.

Good info guys!  I've been wanting a dedicated 22LR upper for a while.

Good info but...everybody seems so busy and unable (or not willing to) provide much assistance. Most of the "big guys" have L-O-N-G wait times (6-8 months and up) for complete rifles and / or uppers. I'm currently having discussions with Jason @ Specialized Dynamics and so far, so good. 

 

Boy that looks alot like mine!

There used to be just a few parts suppliers, and there was no problem matching parts up. There was almost no need to check headspace of bolt and barrel. Now with so many different parts suppliers, I'm finding that a lot of parts will not interchange now. Headspacing is a must, and finding a bolt that will work with some barrels can be a real PITA.

Thats some sage advice there for sure!!!  really save ya from a serious headache!

helo18 wrote: Check out White Oak armament.  I went with their upper and bolt carrier on my build.  They have several complete uppers will fit the bill of what you describe.  Then go buy a lower from Rock River.

My AR wears an 18" mid WOA 11 twist 6.8 SPC II barrel, and man that thing SHOOTS like a house a'fire!

If you're buying a complete rifle, I've been impressed with RRA and Stag.

I like my RRA and JP AR's, but if I was going to do another AR I would go with a JP lower which would run between $450 and $500. And for an upper I would go with a White Oak armament upper in 223 with a 1-8 twist for $615. I think that would be an outstanding AR for not much more than a RRA.

Having worked on many different AR’s and have gained a little more knowledge than your average bear on AR system, I would only buy from a few manufactures because of their quality control and test they perform on each gun prior to shipping.

 

With that said my vote would be for the LaRue PredatAR. I have had the 18” in 556 since February and love it! I do have two bad things to say about LaRue one, they were way off on the lead time for a ship date. They told me 3 months, it was in my hands in less than 3 weeks. The other bad thing is now I want more LaRue rifles.

 

With out giving a full on thesis length review of the rifle here is what I like about it in a nut shell. I appreciate the light weight of the gun, the 14” forend, the flanged upper that the forend attaches to, the redesign of the barrel nut & the Geissele SSA trigger.